The Counter-Terrorism Division (CT) of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is responsible for investigating crimes involving explosives or any type of nuclear, radiological, chemical or biological material, as well as other terrorism-related crimes.
Organization of Counter-Terrorism Division[]
Criminal Conspiracy Section[]
The Criminal Conspiracy Section is responsible for:
- investigating all bombings, attempted bombings and bomb threats where an actual device or facsimile device is used, and/or as it is related to terrorism[note 2]
- Investigating all crimes in which chemical, nuclear, radiological or biological materials are used, or threatened to be used, in the commission of a crime, and/or as it is related to terrorism
- investigating selected hate crimes and hate incidents involving explosives, terrorism or arson
- investigating and/or assisting the Los Angeles Fire Department Arson Unit for arson-related crimes at houses of worship (e.g., a suspicious fire at a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, etc.)
- investigating crimes of extortion or threats of extortion when the extortion elements involve real or implied reference to explosives or any type of nuclear, radiological, chemical or biological material
- investigating terrorism-related crimes, terrorist activity, and illegal actions that could result in a significant disruption of public order
Joint Terrorism Task Force[]
The Counter-Terrorism Division is a member of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in Los Angeles. Based out of FBI field offices, Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) are composed of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers for the purpose of identifying and disrupting potential terrorist plots by individuals or terrorist cells and sharing that information with law enforcement and intelligence partners. JTTF agents are assigned to international terrorism, domestic terrorism, and operational threat squads which check tips and leads from law enforcement contacts and civilian complaints.
Terrorism Liaison Officer Program[]
The LAPD's Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO) Program, headed by the Counter-Terrorism Division, trains other Area/Division officers on matters relating to counter-terrorism. The Counter-Terrorism Division is responsible for:
- authorizing related terrorism advisories, alerts and warnings
- coordinating regular meetings for information sharing and training for TLOs
- maintaining liaison with TLOs
- sharing information provided by the TLOs to the Los Angeles County Terrorism Early Warning Group, a group though which LA County law enforcement agencies share information to identify acts and threats of terrorism
The Commanding Officer, CT, exercises citywide oversight on Area/Division TLOs and ensures that effective communication is maintained between the area TLOs and CT.
Appearances/mentions[]
In “Executive Order” it was mentioned that CT investigated the attempted bombing of an IRS office on September 13, 2008, but were unable to get any solid leads as the bomber had used untraceable components. After working the case for three months the case was transferred to the FBI, who also made no headway on the matter for 21 months.
In “Foreign Affairs” the FBI requested the Major Crimes Division to investigate a murder with possible terrorism connections rather than the Counter-Terrorism Division, as, according to the FBI, assigning Major Crimes to the case would not tip off the suspect "as much."
Notes[]
The Counter-Terrorism Division[note 3] is a fictional division which has been created solely for the Major Crimes Universe. The division is based on the counter-terrorism functions of the real life Major Crimes Division, though notably the intelligence functions of the real life MCD are handled by the (also fictional) Criminal Intelligence Division which operates independently of CT.
- ↑ The division was originally a part of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau (CTB); it was transferred to the Special Operations Bureau (SOB) after the CTB was disbanded for the beginning of Major Crimes.
- ↑ The Major Crimes Universe's Major Crimes Division is shown to have investigative responsibility for homicides committed with explosives, though presumably terrorism–related explosions are still handled by the Counter-Terrorism Division. In the real LAPD, the Criminal Conspiracy Section of the real world Major Crimes Division is responsible for investigating homicides committed by explosives.
- ↑ The division's official name was not explicitly stated until “Foreign Affairs”.
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